Retired to Australia 14 years ago today
Nov 30th 2019, 2:49 am
#17
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: Retired to Australia 14 years ago today
Caloundra to Noosa in basic terms, but goes beyond the Mary River going west. I have friends who've retired up to Noosa so pretty much anywhere, depending on what you're looking for.
Jan 24th 2020, 6:35 pm
#19
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 45
Re: Retired to Australia 14 years ago today
As the title says my husband and I landed in Australia 14 years ago today.
A bit of background, we are both British, and had both moved around a lot and lived in different countries.
Between us UK, Germany, Africa, Singapore, Brunei and finally Australia.
When my husband retired we weren't ready to return to UK, so as we had both spent plenty of time in Australia, and after 10 years in Brunei, aged late 50's (me) and husband 60, we decided to come here for a few years, enjoy living here, and go from there.
Our 3 children were in UK then, our oldest is still there, but our younger 2 have followed us here, one a citizen and other PR about to gain citizenship. Met their partners here and settled.
14 years later we are still here and have no intention of leaving.
We moved to the Sunshine Coast, and were made so welcome, like any new place it takes time to settle and make friends, we have a mix of friends, many Australians and plenty of "Bushies" who have retired to the coast, plus friends from other countries who have moved here like us. A real eclectic mix.
We live life to the full, enjoy our activities, prefer a warm climate to a cold one. Have a house we love, our own pool, situated by a lake, which feels like an extension to our garden, but the council maintains it!
Our only grandchildren are in U.K., so we go there most years for about 3 months, but have to be honest we left UK so long ago that we would hardly ever go there if it wasn't for our son and family.
Thought hopefully my story as a retiree settling here would make a change.
A bit of background, we are both British, and had both moved around a lot and lived in different countries.
Between us UK, Germany, Africa, Singapore, Brunei and finally Australia.
When my husband retired we weren't ready to return to UK, so as we had both spent plenty of time in Australia, and after 10 years in Brunei, aged late 50's (me) and husband 60, we decided to come here for a few years, enjoy living here, and go from there.
Our 3 children were in UK then, our oldest is still there, but our younger 2 have followed us here, one a citizen and other PR about to gain citizenship. Met their partners here and settled.
14 years later we are still here and have no intention of leaving.
We moved to the Sunshine Coast, and were made so welcome, like any new place it takes time to settle and make friends, we have a mix of friends, many Australians and plenty of "Bushies" who have retired to the coast, plus friends from other countries who have moved here like us. A real eclectic mix.
We live life to the full, enjoy our activities, prefer a warm climate to a cold one. Have a house we love, our own pool, situated by a lake, which feels like an extension to our garden, but the council maintains it!
Our only grandchildren are in U.K., so we go there most years for about 3 months, but have to be honest we left UK so long ago that we would hardly ever go there if it wasn't for our son and family.
Thought hopefully my story as a retiree settling here would make a change.
Feb 6th 2020, 12:17 am
#20
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Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 457
Re: Retired to Australia 14 years ago today
17 years today, where does the time go. Still enjoying life on the Sunshine Coast. Our good news is that we finally got PR last year and will apply for citizenship as soon as eligible, and the even better news is that we don’t have to take the citizenship test as we are too old and doddery. Both of the two children who followed us here are now also citizens. Life is strange, if someone had told me in my forties that I would retire and live in Australia I would have laughed as totally unlikely. Love it here.
Feb 6th 2020, 4:42 am
#21
Concierge
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,138
Re: Retired to Australia 14 years ago today
17 years today, where does the time go. Still enjoying life on the Sunshine Coast. Our good news is that we finally got PR last year and will apply for citizenship as soon as eligible, and the even better news is that we don’t have to take the citizenship test as we are too old and doddery. Both of the two children who followed us here are now also citizens. Life is strange, if someone had told me in my forties that I would retire and live in Australia I would have laughed as totally unlikely. Love it here.
Nov 12th 2020, 10:09 pm
#22
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 457
Re: Retired to Australia 14 years ago today
As the title says my husband and I landed in Australia 14 years ago today.
A bit of background, we are both British, and had both moved around a lot and lived in different countries.
Between us UK, Germany, Africa, Singapore, Brunei and finally Australia.
When my husband retired we weren't ready to return to UK, so as we had both spent plenty of time in Australia, and after 10 years in Brunei, aged late 50's (me) and husband 60, we decided to come here for a few years, enjoy living here, and go from there.
Our 3 children were in UK then, our oldest is still there, but our younger 2 have followed us here, one a citizen and other PR about to gain citizenship. Met their partners here and settled.
14 years later we are still here and have no intention of leaving.
We moved to the Sunshine Coast, and were made so welcome, like any new place it takes time to settle and make friends, we have a mix of friends, many Australians and plenty of "Bushies" who have retired to the coast, plus friends from other countries who have moved here like us. A real eclectic mix.
We live life to the full, enjoy our activities, prefer a warm climate to a cold one. Have a house we love, our own pool, situated by a lake, which feels like an extension to our garden, but the council maintains it!
Our only grandchildren are in U.K., so we go there most years for about 3 months, but have to be honest we left UK so long ago that we would hardly ever go there if it wasn't for our son and family.
Thought hopefully my story as a retiree settling here would make a change.
A bit of background, we are both British, and had both moved around a lot and lived in different countries.
Between us UK, Germany, Africa, Singapore, Brunei and finally Australia.
When my husband retired we weren't ready to return to UK, so as we had both spent plenty of time in Australia, and after 10 years in Brunei, aged late 50's (me) and husband 60, we decided to come here for a few years, enjoy living here, and go from there.
Our 3 children were in UK then, our oldest is still there, but our younger 2 have followed us here, one a citizen and other PR about to gain citizenship. Met their partners here and settled.
14 years later we are still here and have no intention of leaving.
We moved to the Sunshine Coast, and were made so welcome, like any new place it takes time to settle and make friends, we have a mix of friends, many Australians and plenty of "Bushies" who have retired to the coast, plus friends from other countries who have moved here like us. A real eclectic mix.
We live life to the full, enjoy our activities, prefer a warm climate to a cold one. Have a house we love, our own pool, situated by a lake, which feels like an extension to our garden, but the council maintains it!
Our only grandchildren are in U.K., so we go there most years for about 3 months, but have to be honest we left UK so long ago that we would hardly ever go there if it wasn't for our son and family.
Thought hopefully my story as a retiree settling here would make a change.
Nov 12th 2020, 11:30 pm
#23
MODERATOR
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 29,851
Re: Retired to Australia 14 years ago today
Well the final piece of the jigsaw is now in place. We are finally citizens!! We had the cut price no frills ceremony in Maroochydore last week, no handshake, no photo, and no native tree, probably a good thing as I am no gardener. The important thing is that we have our certificate, we are finally Australians and can now really feel settled.
And congratulations!
Nov 13th 2020, 12:32 am
#24
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: Retired to Australia 14 years ago today
Well the final piece of the jigsaw is now in place. We are finally citizens!! We had the cut price no frills ceremony in Maroochydore last week, no handshake, no photo, and no native tree, probably a good thing as I am no gardener. The important thing is that we have our certificate, we are finally Australians and can now really feel settled.
Hopefully you didn't have to have a stale Lamington either.
Nov 13th 2020, 4:42 am
#25
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Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 457
Re: Retired to Australia 14 years ago today
Not a lamington in sight, as no mingling or loitering allowed. We just left the soulless hall, and picked up our certificates on the way out, but were congratulated as we took them.
Nov 14th 2020, 4:51 am
#26
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Canberra
Posts: 8,378
Re: Retired to Australia 14 years ago today
Well the final piece of the jigsaw is now in place. We are finally citizens!! We had the cut price no frills ceremony in Maroochydore last week, no handshake, no photo, and no native tree, probably a good thing as I am no gardener. The important thing is that we have our certificate, we are finally Australians and can now really feel settled.
